New Delhi: Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal on Thursday launched a round-the-clock anti-ragging website and helpline for reporting cases of ragging.

The portal has been created by the Aman Satya Kachroo Trust, under Rajendra Kachroo whose son Aman was ragged to death by four of his seniors in a medical college in Himachal Pradesh.

"The Supreme Court gave order in 2009 that we should create an anti-ragging portal. Ragging is a crime which destroys a student's confidence and even forces them to commit suicide," Sibal said after launching the portal.

Kachroo, meanwhile, expressed confidence that the new portal will ensure a response to the complaints lodged by students within half an hour.

"We will respond to the complaints in half an hour. The college principals and authorities will be contacted immediately. If they are not reachable or do not respond appropriately, the local police will be contacted," Kachroo said.

The complaints can be lodged at helpline number 18001805522, or on websites www.antiragging.in, and www.amanmovement.org. One can also get the anti-ragging affidavits through email registering on the website and keep a track about the progress of their complaints.

Explaining the functioning of the portal, University Grants Commission's acting chairman Ved Prakash said: "The complaints would be examined. If they are of serious magnitude, they would be transferred immediately to the police, the magistrate and head of the institution".

Kachroo added that the details of every development since registering the complaint will be taken in account and a file will be made to follow up every case.

"There are nearly 40,000 colleges across the country... we will create a database of all colleges," he said.